Linda Ronstadt Reveals She Has Parkinson's Disease

Eleven time Grammy winnerLinda Ronstadt has Parksinson's disease, the singer toldAARP.org.Ronstadt, 67, says she was diagnosed with the disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, eight months ago. The "You're No Good" singer says she began exhibiting symptoms ...

Ronstadt, 67, says she was diagnosed with the disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, eight months ago. The "You're No Good" singer says she began exhibiting symptoms as far back as eight years ago.

"I couldn't sing and I couldn't figure out why," she said. "I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn't occur to me to go to a neurologist. I think I've had it for seven or eight years already, because of the symptoms that I've had. Then I had a shoulder operation, so I thought that's why my hands were trembling."

"Parkinson's is very hard to diagnose, so when I finally went to a neurologist and he said, 'Oh, you have Parkinson's disease,' I was completely shocked," she continued. "I wouldn't have suspected that in a million, billion years.

Ronstadt says she walks with the aid of poles when she's on uneven ground and also uses a wheelchair when she travels. As a result of the disease, the folk-rock singer said now she can't "sing a note"

"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease," she said. "No matter how hard you try."